SOCIAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 34

SOCIAL TOPICS.

B* Cigarette.

A CUP OF TEA. What tobacco is to a man, tea is to a woman — more than a luxury, almost a necessity. There is really no beverage so refreshing as a good strong cup of tea, with plenty of cream and sugar in it, and there is nothing so nasty as the weak sloppy enp of tea which it is sometimes the fate of late afternoon callers to receive when the teapot has stood too long and it is too late to order in a fresh supply. Tea plays an important part in almost all social entertainments, in fact there is scarcely an occasion on which tea cannot be offered. At dances, conversaziones, "at homes," garden parties, bazaars, and Dorcas meetings tea is always welcome, but reigns supreme at those insipid entertainments of which New Zealand ladies are so fond — namely, afternoon teas. This special form of amusement would be nothing without the tea. It is only when that delightful beverage appears that the guests begin to appear to enjoy themselves. Tea acts on the feminine tongue like whisky on the masculine. Conversation becomes general, and under the shelter of the teacups, delightful little bits of scandal are whispered, the girls grow confidential and quiz each other's toilets, and the matron's dilate on their babies' accomplishments or servants' delinquencies. All the music in the world will not effect the miraculous change that the tea does. Even the entrance of a male on this strictly feminine assembly has not the beneficial effect of the teapot. At old fashioned afternoon teas the ladies used to bring their fancy work, and when conversation lagged they would do a few stitches ; but now work is de trop, and music, gossip, and tea form the amusements. However, the agony is not so long drawn out as it used to be; for one need not stay till the bitter end nor take one's bonnet off. An hour or less will satisfy the hostess, and as a rule will more than satisfy the guest. Tea was in great request during the Exhibition, and it was most amusing to see the way in which the Cingalese kiosk was stormed on the night of the Santley concerts. People who wished to hear the great baritone and see the Exhibition too came early in the afternoon, and between 4 and 5 o'clock might be seen hurrying to the kiosk for a cup of tea, carrying paper bags containing buns &c, for the ",'cannie Scotch Teddies " discovered that by having tea at the kiosk they need only pay 3d ; whereas at the lefreshment room they would have to pay four times that amount. The grinning Cingalese seemed to enjoy the joke immensely, and kept the thirsty ladies waiting as long as they could, each time fresh tea had to be brewed, every now and then peeping through the curtains, and chuckling 1 to themselves as the crowd increased. At last, after several false alarms, they would draw back the curtains, and then ensued a rush on the principle of " each one for himself (or herself) and the deil for the hindmost." Everyone seized a chair, and those who were too "ladylike to display undignified haste were obliged to stand or go elsewhere for the hardly-fought-for cup of tea. & There are some women who will on no account allow themselves to be persuaded into drinking afternoon tea, and these on close acquaintance are generally found to be ! disagreeable people. Of course we must except those who decline tea on account of their health ; but, speaking generally, a woman who refuses tea " on principle," is an unsociable, Puritanical, undesirable acquaintance. She will tell you she does not approve of eating or drinking between meals ; she abhors " gossip ; she does not approve of novel reading, Sunday visitors, breakfast in bed, or any of those little extra indulgences so dear to the feminine mind. In fact, she belongs to that obnoxious class of humanity rightly designated " wet blankets." In the colonies tea is appreciated by men almost as much as by women. It forms the staple drink in the " bush," and is preferred to any other liquor. Talking of the " bush " reminds one of picnics, and it is there par excellence that tea is appreciated. What delicious tea can be made in a " billy " ! and what delicious moments are those spent ostensibly in picking up sticks, when all sorts of out-of-the-way nooks have to be explored in search ol firewood, and the apparently most energetic searchers return very of ;en empty handed or perhaps with a handful of brushwood ! What jokes are cracked over the scarcity of " spoons " I What compliments paid over the sugar I Tea might almost be said to be intoxicating to judge by the hilarity that reigns on these occasions. Tea is again to the fore at social gatherings of religious communities. The Salvation Army is particularly partial to toa meetings, find from the toicu \\-u\ ns---t mbl'ivn -ni'h fip uffa.-H'.T uru 1 i- led to -a'p< jl i t'lftt t'u-y ..re I i'j ir> hiji"vt; > -in " '.net- a ill. ' lu\. '' 'ISI/l ill ts\Cfc-.s, '. tV jM'JV'., jjoi-onuxi-, oiti. i-o v ill o\ 1 1_. i hLv <■'!•- o ihft is Tikij; it i.^ on ) ''!&•'= -"t i-.ihle ihiiif-. ISv.t ■>) i fvn iv'.p v/i<! ..n[i>urr_v 'in. „'. <-r. J.i< ' , „i> Si wnd ;nt\u:c, &v ; let u^ b;^ rioilui'L' aboui. thai, except, what is in its favour. Besides it is too great a favourite with everyone to be abused, and if tho fact of tea being bad for onr complexions does not prevent us from drinking it, it is needless to say that no other argument will avail I

Ayer's Sarsaparilla is take i with \ erfaot safety by old and young. Its cleansing and vitalising effects are sure and speedy, and it is universally conceded to be the most effective of all blood-puriftera.